Supports: cabinet structure – Removal facilitating magazine type
Reexamination Certificate
1998-08-07
2001-04-10
Olszewski, Robert P (Department: 3652)
Supports: cabinet structure
Removal facilitating magazine type
C312S312000, C414S415000, C206S315900
Reexamination Certificate
active
06213574
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a baseball dispenser. More particularly, the invention relates to a baseball dispenser which employs a container for holding a large supply of baseballs or softballs and a pair or wheels attached thereto for facilitating easy transportation across the surface of the playing field. Further, the invention relates to a baseball dispenser which is designed to automatically elevate the balls retained therein to a level at which the balls located on the top can be easily grasped by a pitcher or coach during batting practice.
Baseball and softball players spend a great deal of time practicing and developing their bat swinging technique by swinging at balls that are thrown at a high speed. This form of training requires a pitcher or coach to repetitiously throw a large number of balls from the pitcher's mound to the catcher behind the home plate. Thus, it is desirable to have a baseball dispenser that is capable of holding a large supply of balls, and at the same time, helping pitchers and coaches to carry out batting practices by enabling retrieval of balls without having to stoop or bend over before each pitch.
Several references uncovered in the prior art describe various devices for dispensing playing balls. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,798,319 to James discloses a portable tennis ball caddy formed to vertically orient a plurality of spring biased balls towards an exit opening. While these units mentioned above may be suitable for the particular purpose employed, or for general use, they would not be as suitable for the purposes of the present invention as disclosed hereafter.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the invention to provide a baseball dispenser which helps pitchers and coaches to carry out batting practice without having to stoop or bend over to pick up a baseball before each pitch.
It is another object of the invention to provide a baseball dispenser which employs a cylindrical container for holding a large supply of baseballs or softballs, and a spring-biased platform vertically disposed within the container for automatically elevating the contained balls to a level at which the balls located on the top can be easily grasped, thereby eliminating the need to stoop and bend over to pick up a ball before each pitch.
It is yet another object of the invention to provide a baseball dispenser which utilizes support columns and compression springs for guiding the platform as it travels in a vertical path along the interior of the container and, at the same time, provide a stable horizontal support to the platform so that the platform will not wobble during transportation of the dispenser.
It is a further object of the invention to provide a baseball dispenser which can be used for storage of baseballs, softballs, and the like.
The invention is a baseball dispenser for storing and dispensing a balls, comprising a cylindrical container which has an interior sized to hold a large supply of baseballs, softballs, and the like, and an opening at its top for receiving balls into the interior thereof. The baseball dispenser has a pair of handles secured to the upper end of the container and a pair of wheels rotatably mounted to the lower end thereof for facilitating easy transportation across the surface of the ground. One or more support columns extend vertically from the bottom of the container, wherein a compression spring is disposed about each of the support columns. A circular platform is vertically slidably disposed within the container and is engaged with the support columns such that the compression springs are constrained axially between the bottom of the container and the platform. The support columns serve to guide the platform as it travels in a vertical path along the interior of the container, and at the same time, the compression springs serve to automatically elevate the platform to a level at which the balls located on the top can readily be grasped for use as the balls are removed from the container.
To the accomplishment of the above and related objects, the invention may be embodied in the form illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Attention is called to the fact, however, that the drawings are illustrative only. Variations are contemplated as being part of the invention, limited only by the scope of the claims.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3494503 (1970-02-01), Kingsley
patent: 4244410 (1981-01-01), Silverman
patent: 5040675 (1991-08-01), Cleveland et al.
Goldstein & Canino
Jaketic Bryan
Olszewski Robert P
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